The Taking of Jake Livingston

A ALA Rainbow Book List Pick A Tor Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Best Book Pick A Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best Booklist Pick

Spine-chilling YA horror. The Boston Globe

This book is absolutely incredible, chilling, and a must-read. BuzzFeed

YA readers looking for thrills and chills this summer will find them here. Brightly

Captures the pain of navigating teenagerhood when no one around you sees the world the way you do . . . A quick, worthwhile read that manages to pack a lot of dark themes into a tight space. The Young Folks

Chilling, edgy . . . spooky and layered . . . A wonderful genre-meld . . . This is an excellent debut. Cinelinx

This YA debut from Ryan Douglass is a mix of genres horror, mystery, thriller, and contemporary that explores how a Black gay teen medium copes with the various kinds of violence that threaten him. Culturess

Racial and sexuality themes undercut this gripping novel where a teen is haunted by the repercussions of his own sixth sense. Cultured Vultures

A unique and terrifying world built on tension and ghosts. The Seattle Times

An exceptional blend of genres horror, mystery, thriller and contemporary that brilliantly captures how Jake, a Black gay teen medium, copes with the varying kinds of violence threatening him . . . Douglass creates a clever and effective parallel between what Jake can't control racism and how his body is perceived, a toxic father, an irresponsible brother, his mother's expectations and his fight against Sawyer. The story builds to a rewardingly chilling and sentimental climax, as Jake must look deep within himself for the power to break the cycles of harm entrapping him . . . An extraordinarily crafted exploration of agency during Black gay teenhood. Shelf Awareness, starred review

A teenage version of Get Out, and you will not be disappointed. . . Douglass looks at race and trauma and death with a comical and horror-esque twist. The Root

Crucial social commentary and insight into the ways discrimination can isolate and depress young adults. Lush and emotive prose chronicles Jake s journey . . . Spooky, atmospheric, and layered. Kirkus Reviews

There are many layers to navigate in this fast-paced trip to and from the world of the dead, including identity, violent and sexual traumas, and the stigma of mental illness, all with a supernatural and often gory twist . . . Ultimately, this is a satisfying addition to the supernatural horror section. BCCB

Tackl[ing] mental illness, rejection, and loneliness. . . this novel takes a hard look at brutality in many forms, racism, homophobia, and consequences of the choices that we make. School Library Journal